Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-06
CONGRESSIONAL.
The Senate Consumes Most OF the Day
in Discussing the Pacific
Roads Land Bill.
Congressman Reid of North Carolina
Il nders His Resignation, which is 3
Laid on the Table.
KILN CONGRESS.
THE SENATE.


pers submitted to the senate by the pre-
siding officer were three reports from the
secretary of war in response to resolu-
lions of inquiry as to the change of en-
gineers on the improvement at the mouth
of the Columbia river, as to the projected
bridge across the Arthur Kill between
New jersey and Staten Island, and as to
the apportionment of money appropria-
ted for improvement of the Missouri
river.
Mr.. Mitchell Of Pennsylvania, from COM
mittee on common pensions, reported a
bill granting a pension of $4,000 year %
the widow of Gen. John A. Logan, and
asked for it's immediate consideration,
but under objection by the committee the
bi went over until o-morrow.
Mr.. Mcpherson offered resolution
calling on the secretary of the treasury
Tor statement of the Indebtedness of
the Pacific companies to the government
January l, 1887, with details of all pay
ments made on account of sales. Also
as to the sums due or to become due,
principal and interest, under existing
laws, severally and collectively, and what
difference will result to the treasury if
the pending senate funding bill should
become law.
Mr.. Hoar moved to amend the resolu-
ton by adding to it these words: "And
a statement of all existing questions in
regard to the amount of such debts in
dispute between said companies and the
government"
Mr.. Mcpherson argued against the
proposed amendment as tending toward
delay, and suggested that if Mr.. Hoar
would promise not to bring up the bill at
the present session he would withdraw
his resolution.
Mr.. Hoar expressed his great surprise
at the proposition, but offered to agree to
not call up the bill until the information
asked could be obtained.
Mr.. Mcpherson thanked the senator
even for that concession. He asserted
that the effect of the funding bill would
be to give as donation to thase Pacific
railroads more money than the entire
value of all the lands r, claimed under the
forfeiture bills for the last three years.
Mr.. Hoar regarded this as a very ex-
traUrdlDary proceeding. This bill had
been reported in its general features to
the last congress. Debts amounting to
about $3.50, 600, 600 would be due to he
government by these companies and on
an average of eleven or twelve years from
this time an equal amount would be due
by the companies on first mortgage bonds
to which the government debt wes subor
dinate. The judiciary committee was
satisfied that it would not be eXpedient
for the government at the end Of that
time to drive these companies in
to bankruptcy and have them sold
in the market on the one land
or operated by the government itself on
the other hand. If there WAS any senator
who differed with the committee on these
propositions he should be surprised to
learn the fact. If the companies could be
assured that the government would not
assert its authority, and would allow
them to make arrangements to raise
new loan to pay off the government 10 IN
they would probably do that and go on,
but now they could not do it. The fund
ing bill was recommended by the present
administration.
Mr. EdmuDds suggested that all the
Information asked for in the resolution
and amendments was to be found in the
report of the railroad commissioner,
stated very clearly and very well. AS to
the opinion of the secretary of the
treasury of the effect of the funding bill,
that was matter of simple arithmeticaI
Calculation which any one could make
for himself. After further discussion, in
which Mr.. Mcpherson spoke of
frauds in connection with the
original stock, and Mr.. Hoar showed
how the stock was now chiefly
in the hands Of small owners. and said
that discussion at this time could only be
in the interest of speculator-, the matter
went over without action until to-mor-
row.
The senate then took up the conference
report on the Interstate commerce bill
and was addressed by Mr.. Plat of Con-
necticut. He.opposed the conference re-
port and advocated it's rejection solely
for the reason that it prohibits pooling.
In all other respects he favored the COM
promise bill. The subject OF pooling was
not well understood by the public gene
rally, and he proceeded to examine at
length and explain the law on the subject
and practice Of pooling.
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-The call of the
having been dispensed with,
MIR. Davidson of Florida, on behalf of the
committee on railways and canals, called
up in the morning hour the bill for the
Improvement of the Erie and
Oswego canals and to secure the freedom
of the same to the commerce OF the United
Stats. The bill was considered in COM
mittee of the whole, Mr.. crisp of Georgia
in the chair.
Mr.. Webber of New York, the intro
Queer of the measure, advocated its pas
sage, dwelling upon the important factor
which the freedom of the Erie
aud Oswego canals to the commerce of
the country would form in providing
cheap transportation for the products of
the West to the seaboard. The PROPOSE
tons of the bill were fair to the nation |
and fair to the state of New York. An
exhaustive report of the committee on |
railways and canals was read in Mr..
Webber's time, and consumed the greater
part of the morning hour, and the COM
mittee rose without action.
The house then went into committee
of the whole on the Indian appropriation
bill. The bill gave rise to no opposition |
in any Of its features, and the committee
having risen, it was passed without dis
cussion or division. 1t sppropriates
S5,l15, 900.
The military academy appropriation